Is five-years-old too young to play tackle football? That's the question being raised after a five-year-old suffered a severe head injury at a tackle football game in early October.
Over 250,000 young football players participate in Pop Warner programs across the country.
Posted videos online show it is a full contact sport, with players as young as 5-years-old going head-to-head out on the field.
"Five might be a little young, I'm concerned about it," says Dr. Josh Green, Big Island Senator & Emergency Room Physician.
Dr. Josh Green has seen first hand the effects of sports-related traumatic brain injuries on young children.
"Up to age 14 now across the country there are 250,000 visits to the ER, to an ER doctor like myself, and 100,000 documented concussions," says Dr. Green.
Two weeks ago, a 5-year-old Oahu Pop Warner football player experienced a head injury that sent him to the hospital in critical condition where he went into a coma.
"I mean I'm a big time football fan, but there's time in the teen years and time in college for that kind of sport," says Dr. Green.
In 2006 Oahu Pop Warner began including the "Tiny-Mite" Division for kids ages 5, 6 and 7 with players competing against others of similar age and size to reduce the risk of injuries.
"Parents should be aware that football is designed to be a contact sport, it's built into the rules of the game," says Dr. Caesar Ursic, Director for Trauma Services at the Queens Medical Center.
Dr. Ursic also warns that a bump, blow or jolt to the head can do more than sideline a player for a season.
"Some of the problems would be learning deficits, kids may not do well in school."
"Do you really want your child to be exposed to that kind of risk when there are alternatives for sports," he says.
The Pop Warner program claims there are fewer injuries among children in organized football than in soccer.
"Every family should make their own decision, but again always have great equipment and great medical attention," says Dr. Green.
The Oahu Pop Warner program says they will not be commenting at this time.
